Diabetes was the sixth leading cause of death listed on U.S. death certificates in 2000. This is based on the 69,301 death certificates in which diabetes was listed as the underlying cause of death.  Altogether, diabetes contributed to 213,062 deaths.

Diabetes is likely to be under reported as a cause of death because many decedents with diabetes do not have the disease entered on their death certificate. Studies have found that only about 35% to 40% have it listed anywhere on the certificate and only about 10% to 15% have it listed as the underlying cause of death.

Overall, the risk for death among people with diabetes is about 2 times that of people without diabetes.

Data Source: Multiple cause-of-death data, National Center for Health Statistics, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.